Man charged with murdering girlfriend, child

Prosecutors say an Oakland man killed his girlfriend's baby, dumped the body in the water, then killed her to stop her from telling anyone.

They charged 38-year-old Charles Martin III on Tuesday with two counts of murder with special circumstances, making him eligible for the death penalty if convicted.

Police found the body of 17-month-old Jashon Williams floating near the Berkeley Marina on Sunday – two days after his mother's body was found in nearby Aquatic Park. Authorities say Martin killed Zoelina Williams to silence a witness to a crime.

Martin has not yet entered a plea.

Martin previously was convicted of killing a girlfriend's child. He pleaded guilty in 1994 to voluntary manslaughter in a plea deal that got him 11 years in prison. He was released in six years after getting credit for time served.